(June 10) – After about a year of planning, leaders of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers finally saw the fruits of their labor this past weekend at what was widely considered the most successful DAYL event in 2015 so far.

Add around 120 young attorneys, eight judges, 25 seasoned attorneys and the George Allen Courthouse together and you get the DAYL Trial Skills Boot Camp.

DAYL President Jonathan Childers said the boot camp truly fulfilled its purpose of providing a top-notch experiential learning opportunity for young lawyers who aspire to practice regularly in the courtroom – especially if that aspiration happens sooner than expected.

“Young lawyers cannot always control when they go to trial, but thanks for the Trial Skills Boot Camp, they are better equipped with skills and confidence to succeed when they do,” said Childers, a partner at Gruber Hurst Elrod Johansen Hail Shank.

Leslie Chaggaris, a DAYL member who co-chaired the boot camp, agreed.

“The Trial Skills Boot Camp was a success, in large part, due to the accomplished trial lawyers and Dallas County judges who selflessly donated their time to train the next generation of trial lawyers,” said Chaggaris, an associate at Reese Gordon Marketos. “We have an incredible bar in Dallas, and we were honored that so many nationally recognized, Dallas-based trial lawyers participated.”